John Calipari revels in newfound underdog status

John Calipari made the biggest coaching move of the offseason with his decision to leave Kentucky and go to Arkansas. With that, some see it as him taking a step off the peak of the pedestal, which is a take that he’s fine with.

Calipari discussed his apparent position as an underdog with the media while at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin. Amidst the reporter’s question, he himself had to clarify if the Razorbacks aren’t atop the rankings.

“We’re not the heavy favorite now?” joked Calipari.

However, even if a few don’t think that the ‘Hogs will be top-rate, Calipari says they’ll treat and assess his team like one. The national attention that Arkansas will get with the opponents and primetime events on their schedule for this season will be evidence of that.

“I’ve been to different places but I’m not – my guess is, whichever building we go into, it’ll be similar. They’ll be trying and my guess is our building, Bud Walton, will be packed,” said Calipari. “Right now, some of the games that I’ve scheduled? You get calls from ESPN, different events, CBS – can you do this and this? Until I get the rest of the roster, I probably won’t fully do the schedule.”

The staff and roster for the Razorbacks are also in a spot now that Calipari is excited about. Arkansas has eight players, five transfers from a Top-40 class in the portal and three freshmen from the No. 2 recruiting class in the country, along with a group of assistants, including Brad Calipari, that are ready to work, regardless of what anyone may think of them.

“We’re in good shape right now. I’m juiced about it,” said Calipari. “Like, let’s go.”

“Got a great staff, guys are working at this,” Calipari said. “Able to hire my son so I get to work with my son every day. I’m seeing him, loving on him.”

There’s only so much to doubt about a Hall of Famer like Calipari. His resumé does include 855 wins, which is most among active coaches, along with a national title. That championship came during his 15 years in Lexington along with 410 of his wins being with the Wildcats.

Still, the job change and new program isn’t the only question about Coach Cal coming into his new tenure. His last four years in the bluegrass weren’t as successful with an 80-46 (.634) record with no conference titles and no finishes past the Round of 32 in three berths in the NCAA Tournament, including two upsets to a No. 15 seed in Saint Peter’s in 2022 and a No. 13 seed in Oakland this last March.

Doubting can lead to a prove-it response for anyone. That could now be the case for Calipari at Arkansas this year in the fourth head-coaching job of his collegiate career.